Article of jewelry having an unfurlable cover



Jan. 30, 1968 R. ALTMA N 3,365,877

ARTICLE OF JEWELRY HAVING AN UNFUR LABLE COVER Filed Dec. 6, 1965INVENTOR. ROBERT ALTMAN ATTORNEXYS United State r 3,365,877 ARTICLE OFJEWELRY HAVING AN UNFURLABLE COVER Robert Altman, Bronx, N.Y. RobertAltman Incorporated, 38 W. 48th St., New York, N.Y. 10036) Filed Dec. 6,1965, Ser. No. 512,579 13 Claims. (Cl. 5888) This invention relates toan article of jewelry having an unfurlable domed cover.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide an article ofjewelry including a novel cover for a wrist watch, a miniature portraitor other display matter, the cover being characterized by a ring ofpetals which may be unfurled by the wearer in a manner imitative of theopening of a bud of a flower from a furled position blocking view of thewrist watch face, etc., to a position simulating an opened corolla thatrings the face and exposes it to view.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an article of jewelryhaving an unfurlable domed cover of the character described wherein thecover is simple in construction, few in its number of parts and is soconstructed that no mechanical-looking components can be observed. It isa further object of my invention to provide an article of jewelry havingan unfurlable domed cover of the character described which, when thecover is closed, has the appearance of a highly decorative andinteresting nature-simulative article of jewelry and which, when opened,reveals a previously concealed watch or other display matter.

Other objects of my invention in part will be obvious and in part willbecome apparent to the reader in the following description.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the article of jewelry hereinafter described and of whichthe scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my article of jewelry having an unfurlablecover, the cover being illustrated in closed condition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial cross-sectional side view of the article ofjewelry and illustrating in full lines the closed position and indot-and-dash lines the open position of the petals of the cover;

'FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the article of jewelry shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of three neighboring petalsof the cover;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary interior elevational developed view of a fewpetals of the cover;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged view of a stamen-simulating jewel mountingassembly used in connection with my article of jewelry; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the cover in opencondition.

In general, and in accordance with the teaching of my invention, Iprovide an article of jewelry having an unfurlable domed cover. Saidarticle of jewelry may include within its interior a watch, a miniatureportrait, or any other decorative or display matter. As will be seen,the wearer of my article of jewelry or any other person in his immediatevicinity when looking at the article of jewelry when the cover is closedwill only see a very decorative and interesting article having a generalconfiguration fancifully simulating a tightly closed bud of a flower.However, the cover of my article of jewelry can be quickly and easilyopened by the wearer so as to Patented Jan. 30, 1968 ice form anencircling opened corolla that exposes to view the interior of thearticle, that is, the face of the Watch, the portrait, or other displaymaterial housed therein. The cover in opening unfurls its petals in amanner quite like that of the petals of a flower bud expanding or movingapart. This unfurling movement is an appealing aspect of my cover, andcarries forward the naturei-mitative concept embodied therein.

The article of jewelry includes a frame on which the watch and the likeare mounted and a ring of petals each separately hinged on the frame.The petals are sucessively marginally overlapping in a shingle-likefashion, that is, each petal has one of its edge portions located on theinterior face of the adjacent edge portion of one of its immediatelyneighboring petals and has its other edge portion located on theexterior face of the adjacent edge portion of its other immediatelyneighboring petal. Each of the petals is hinged on the frame about anaxis of rotation and the axes of rotation preferably lie in the sameplane with each axis of rotation forming with the axes of rotation ofits neighboring petals an interior angle of from between about 60 toless than 180". In the preferred embodiment of my invention there aresix petals symmetrically arranged so that the axis of rotation of eachpetal forms a interior angle with the axes of rotation of itsneighboring petals. Each petal is substantially spherically segmental orcup-shaped, i.e. externally bellied. When the cover is in its closedcondition, the petals are inwardly inclined with their tips juxtaposedat the top center of the cover so as to define an essentially closeddome having a hollow interior. When the cover is open, the petals areswung out to a substantially erect or even outwardly inclined positionwith their tips spaced from one another and from the top center of thecover so that the petals form an open corolla. Each petal has one edgeportion which in open condition of the cover urges the adjacent portionof the overlapping neighboring petal radially outwardly. A chainreaction is thus achieved initiating from the petal which is manuallyoperated by the wearer of the article of jewelry and running a completecircle through the ring of petals until the petal immediately before thefirst operated petal is again reached. As has been said, the ring ofpetals in an open condition permits view of the interior of the articleof jewelry. Spring means biasesthe ring of petals to their closedcondition.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 10denotes an article of jewelry having an unfurlable domed. bud-simulatingcover incorporating my present invention. The domed cover willhereinafter be referred to by reference numeral 12.

The article of jewelry includes an annular substantially cylindricalframe 14 on which the several other components of my invention aremounted and which holds any display matter within the article ofjewelry. In the embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in thedrawings, the display matter constitutes a watch 16 which, as isconventional, includes a watch casing 18, a watch stem 20 protrudingfrom the casing and a crystal 22 secured in the top of the casing 18.The frame 14- has an open top and an open bottom and is of sufficientlylarge internal diameter to allow for placement of the watch casingtherein. The display matter may also be a cameo, portrait or gem. Thearticle of jewelry may alternatively be mounted on a ring, chain, loop,pin or any mounting in which case the opening in the frame may beeliminated if desired. The frame has a lower rim or border 15 whichdefines a circle lying in a plane.

Means is provided to mount the watch 16 for selective rotation about anaxis parallel to the plane of the border 15 so as to expedite winding ofthe watch stem and repair of the Watch interior. If such means were notprovided and the watch fixed in place, the stem of the watch would haveto be permanently exposed and might detract from the naturalisticbud-like appearance of the article of jewelry. Said mounting meansincludes a pair of diametrically aligned trunnions 24 having theirexterior ends fixed to the frame 14 at diametrically opposed locationsand having their interior ends rotatably seated in aligned apertures inthe casing 18. The normal position of the watch is with the watchcrystal 22 facing upwardly and, when the cover is open, exposed to view(see FIG. 7). The watch is retained in this position by a resilient wireloop 28 (FIG. 3) fixed to the bottom of the casing which grippinglyengages a squat headed stud 30 dependent from the frame. The loop can bereadily slipped off the stud 30 so that the watch may be turned aboutthe trunnions 24 through approximately a 120 angle of rotation until aportion of the casing strikes a blocking portion of the frame. In thiscondition, the stem 20 is exposed from beneath the frame and can bewound. The crystal 22 may be removed at this time for the purpose ofrepair. The watch rotated through 90 is shown in dot-and-dash lines inFIG. 3. The watch may be counter-rotated back to its normal position asdesired.

My article of jewelry, as illustrated in the drawings, is attached to awatch hand. To this end, two outwardly extending arms 32, 34 attachdiametrically opposed portions of the frame 14 to the proximate ends ofa wrist watch band 36. Each of the arms and its connection to both theframe and to an end of the watch band are the same and only one needs bedescribed. The arm 32 includes two laterally spaced inwardly extendingfingers 38 and each of the fingers at its tip is in one piece with theframe at its lower periphery. The arm 32 further includes an outwardlyopening box-shaped member 40 which is configured to receive an end ofthe watch band 36. The

member 46 overlies the watch band end on its top, bottom, and both sidesand a pintle 42 passes transversely through a sleeve .-1 in the watchband end and through both sides 41a of the box-shaped member 40, therebyto retain said watch band end within the member. The arm 32 may alsocarry a row of upwardly extending settings 44 to hold a series of smallgems 46.

The cover 12 of my article of jewelry, which is the highlight of myinvention, is made up of a ring 48 of metal petals 50. Each of thepetals 50 is the same and in a preferred embodiment of my invention sixpetals comprise the cover 12. The cover 12 when closed over the watch 16is dome-shaped with a rather flattened peak, with a diameter greaterthan its height, and with a flat bottom defined by the lower peripheryof the frame 14-. Each of the petals 50 defines an equal part, i.e. ofthe domed configuration of the closed cover and each petal isapproximately spherically segmental, i.e. cup-shaped (externallybellied) with a radius of curvature emanating from the general vicinityof the center of the cover 12. Within the description just given, itwill be appreciated that each of the petals may be further configured toenhance the outward appearance of the article of jewelry and to this endin the illustrated embodiment each petal 50 is formed to simulate acup-shaped petal of a fiower (see FIG. Each petal includes a broad base52, two opposed marginal portions 54, 56 having edges, respectively, 55,57 and a tip 58. The outer surface and tip 58 of each petal may bechased to form veins that further create the illusion of anature-imitative object.

Each petal has in one piece therewith and located below its base 52 abearing 60 which is journaled on the lower periphery of the frame 14.The journaling, i.e. hinging, of each of the petals permits movement ofeach of the petals from an inwardly inclined closed position at whichview of the watch 16 is blocked and at which the tips 58 of the petalsare juxtaposed over the center top of the cover (see FIG. 1 and solidlines in FIG. 2) to an outward position at which the petals are spreadapart, being approximately erect or even outwardly inclined, so

d as to form an encircling corolla that permits view of the watch 16 andat which position the tips 58of the petals are quite distant from oneanother and from the center of the cover (see cover in FIG. 7 and indot-and-dash lines in FIG. 2).

The bearing 60 of each petal is flanked by a pair of spaced alignedmounts 62, said mounts being integral with the lower rim 15 of the frame14. There is a pair of mounts 62 for each petal and the pairs of mountsare equidistantly and equiangularly spaced around the lower rim of theframe, defining a regular hexagon. A piri 64 rotatably passes through acentral bore 65 (see FIG. 4) in each of the bearings 60 and has its endsfixed in the aligned bores in each of the flanking mount-s 62, therebyenabling each petal to swing back and forth on the frame 14 about itsassociated pin. It will be noted that the axes of rotation of all of thepetals on the frame lie parallel to the plane of the border 15. Further,the axis of rotation of each petal intersects and makes the same anglewith the axis of rotation of its immediately adjacent petals and formstherewith an interior angle of from between 60 (for a cover of threepetals) to less than 180 (for a cover of a large number of petals). Inthe symmetrical six petal embodiment shown in the drawings, there is ainterior angle between adjacent axes of rotation.

it will be observed that each petal, when the ring of petals opens,moves away from every other petal and outwardly from a line which isperpendicular to and passes through the center of the circle defined bythe frame boundary 15.

The petals of the cover are hingedly located about the frame in what maybe best described as a closed shingle overlap fashion, the petals beingskewed relative to their associated journals to achieve this effect. Bythe foregoing term, it is meant that each petal has one of its marginaledge portions overlapping and exteriorally outward of (overlying) themarginal edge portion of its neighboring petal on one side thereof, andhas its other marginal edge portion overlapping and interiorally inwardof (underlying) the marginal edge portion of its neighboring petal onthe other side thereof. This arrangement can be easily seen in FIG. 4wherein an arbitrarily designated center petal Stia is arranged inshingle overlap fashion with respect to two other neighboring petals,50b and Site. Only three petals of a ring of petals have been showntherein and the frame eliminated, all for the purpose of clarity.Further, the petals are shown in top plan view and a cross-section hasbeen taken along a horizontal plane so that only the base portions andthe bearings of the petals are shown. Further, the cover-closedcondition of these petals is illustrated in solid lines and should becompared with FIG. 1, and the cover-open position of the petals is shownin dot-and-dash lines and should be compared with FIG. 7. Morespecifically, the center petal 50a of the three illustrated petals hasone of its marginal edge portions 56a overlapping, that is, radiallyoutward of, the adjacent marginal edge portion 54c of its neighboringpetal 50c. The center leaf 50a has its other marginal edge portion 54aunderlapping, that is, radially inward of, the adjacent marginal edgeportion 56b of its neighboring petal 50]). From a comparison of thesolid and dot-anddash positions of FIG. 4 it will be appreciated thatthe foregoing closed shingle overlap placement of the petals is inexistence both when the petals are in their coverclosed condition andwhen the petals are in their coveropen condition, the variance being inthe amount (lateral dimension) of overlap between the adjacent marginalportions of neighboring petals.

The manner in which the ring of petals moves from closed to openposition will now be apparent. Each of the petals is hinged so as toindependently swing inwardly and outwardly on the frame. Each petal isrestrained from separate movement inwardly or outwardly by the abutmentof its marginal edge port-ions either against a more outwardly marginaledge portion of one of its neighboring petals or against the moreinwardly marginal edge portion of its other neighboring petal. When itis desired to open the ring of petals, one of the petals is manuallyoutwardly swung by the wearer. Thereupon, one margin-a1 edge portion ofsaid petal urges and moves a more outwardly marginal edge portion of aneighboring petal outwardly, and in turn the said neighboring petalswings outwardly and transmits the same force and movement to its nextsuccessive neighbor. This transmission of force and movement continuesvia each successive petal of the ring of petals until the petalimmediately before the first named petal is again reached.

The ring of petals when expanding from its cover-closed position to itscover-open position experiences an increase in maximum diameter (of.FIGS. 1 and 7).

As the petals move outwardly, the overlapping mar ginal edge portionsexperience relative sliding movement along their contacting faces in acircumferential direction away from one another. To facilitate thismovement and as well to permit the ring of petals in their closedcondition to assume a constricted condition, each petal is slightlyoffset with respect to its axis of rotation (skewed) so that itsinwardly disposed marginal edge portion slopes gradually inwardly whileits outwardly disposed marginal edge portion slopes inwardly moreseverely. As a result and as best seen in FIG. 4, the transversecross-section of each petal has a progressively smaller radius ofcurvature in a direction toward its overlapping edge portion.

Although the outwardly biasing force has been described as moving in acircle from one petal to a neighboring overlapping petal, it will beappreciated that said force is transmitted through the ring of petalsinstantaneously so that as one petal is pulled outwardly manually by thewearer, at the same time all the other petals of the ring of petalsswing. Accordingly, the petals seem to unfurl from one another and aboutthe center of the article imitative in a fanciful manner of theunf'urling of a flower bud.

It has been found advantageous to provide a definitive contact pathbetween every two overlapping marginal edge portions of adjacent petals.By a contact path is meant a line (or a zone of some minimal area)defined by the successive points of contact between said overlappingmarginal edge portions as the cover moves between its open and closedconditions. A definitive contact path is provided so that undesiredparts of the petals do not come into contact, which might mar thepolished finish which it is desired to give to my article of jewelry andfurther so that chased portions of the petals do not catch on oneanother during such movement. In the present embodiment of my invention,the contact path is defined by an elongated rib 66 (see FIG. 5) locatedon the exterior face of each leaf and running diagonally centrally fromthe base of the petal along that marginal edge portion 56 which isinwardly disposed of the marginal edge portion of the next neighboringpetal and to the adjacent edge 57 of the petal. The exact position ofthe rib 66 is to be determined, as has been said, by the points ofcontact between overlapping marginal edge portions of neighboring petalsand depends in great part upon the specific shape of the petals. In FIG.4, it will be seen that the petal 50b carries the rib 66b, while thepetal 50a carries the rib 66a. Each rib constitutes a guide path. Withthe curvilinear cross-section as described above, the petal edges 57slide along each of the ribs 66 and these ribs are the only points ofabutment between any two adjacent petals.

To facilitate the opening of my article of jewelry, a small boss 68 isfixed to the external surface of one of the petals as by soldering in aposition in which it is exposed when the cover is closed. The boss hasan enlarged head 70 which may be conveniently caught by a fingernail ofthe wearer.

Means are provided to urge the cover from its open to its closedposition so that the cover will be normally closed and so that the coverwill return to its closed positi-on after it has been opened andreleased by the wearer. Said means comprises one, and preferably more,as illustrated in the drawings two, coil springs 72. Said springs arelocated at diametrically opposed positions on the frame 14, each coilspring 72 being located between the legs 38 of an arm, 32 or 34. Toaccommodate the coil springs, the bearings 60 and an adjacent portion ofthe bases 52 of two opposed petals 50 are centrally notched as at 74 andeach coil spring is wound about the pin 64 and has its ends seatedagainst a petal and the frame in a position to urge said petal inwardlytowards said frame (see FIG. 2). The biasing force of the coil springs72 is transmitted around the ring of petals in a converse manner to thatdescribed during the opening movement of the cover. The inclusion of twocoil springs has been found to engender a smoother closing movement ofthe cover. FIG. 2 shows only one spring.

The series of settings 44 on either side of the cover serve as anoutward stop for limiting opening movement of the cover and wedging ofthe overlapping tips of the petals serves as an inward stop for limitingclosing movement of the cover.

By virtue of the fact that bases 52 of the petals are quite broadrelative to their tips and to the overall dimensions of the cover, viewof the display matter (the watch face) within the domed cover ispermitted primarily along a viewing axis perpendicular to the planedefined by the bottom rim of the frame. Because the marginal edgeportions of the petals overlap along the major portions of theirperiphery both when closed and when open, the interior of the covercannot be seen while viewing the article of jewelry in elevation.Thereby, when the wearer desires to ascertain the time of day or look atother display matter within the article of jewelry when he opens thering of petals, he must peer into the ring of petals from the top in thesame manner as if he were looking into a partially opened flower bud.The foregoing further enhances the fanciful imitative nature of myarticle of jewelry.

In conjunction with my article of jewelry, I provide a ring ofshimmering stones simulative of the stamens of a flower. To this end andas best seen in FIG. 6, a ring of jewel mounting assemblies 76 isprovided each of which includes a pronged setting 78 of the type adaptedto grip a gem 80 fancifully representative of an anther. A solidcylindrical elongated shank 82 is fixed to and depends from the setting78 and terminates in an enlarged spherical lower head 84. The shank 82is captured in an aperture 86 in the frame, said aperture being ofslightly larger diameter than the diameter of the shank 82. A flange 8-8extends outwardly from the juncture of the setting 78 and the upper endof the shank 82. The lower end of the aperture 86 has a somewhatenlarged flaring mouth to receive the head 84 and the shank is ofsufficient length to permit limited longitudinal movement thereofbetween stops which constitute the flange 88 on one side and the head 84on the other side. The radial clearance between the shank and theaperture 86 in the frame and the longitudinal shifting permitted to theshank enable each mounting assembly 76 as a whole to jiggle under theinfluence of the normal slight movements of the wrist or arm of thewearer. When light plays on the gems 80, the jiggling of the ring ofmounting assemblies imparts a shimmering effect. Preferably, numerousmounting assemblies are arranged along the open top rim of the frame 14and are visible only when the cover is open, thereby encircling thedisplay matter within the cover in a ring of shimmering light. Theshimmering ring is not an essential feature of my invention.

It thus will be seen that I have provided an article of jewelry with anunfurlable cover which achieves the several objects of my invention andwhich is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein described or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and useful, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An article of jewelry having an unfurlable cover, said articleincluding a frame having a border defining a plane, a ring ofsuccessively marginally overlapping petals, means hinging each of saidpetals about an axis of rotation on the frame for swinging movementbetween an inward and outward position, the axes of rotation of thepetals lying substantially parallel to said plane and each axis formingwith an immediately adjacent axis an interior angle of from about 60 toless than 180, means for engaging each of said petals successively inorder of their positions around said ring for mutual movement of thepetals between their closed and open positions whereby the ring ofpetals is unfurlable from a collapsed condition to an open condition andmeans biasing the ring of petals towards its collapsed condition.

2. An article of jewelry as set forth in claim it wherein display matteris mounted on the frame and the ring of petals in collapsed conditionconceals said matter from view and in open condition exhibits saidmatter to view.

3. An article of jewelry as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lowerportions of the petals are broad and overlap in both collapsed and opencondition whereby view of the display matter is permitted only along anaxis substantially perpendicular to the border plane.

4. An article of jewelry as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of thepetals is of outwardly bellied configuration and the tips of the petalsin collapsed condition are above the plane of the border so that thering of petals when collapsed is dome-shaped.

5. An article of jewelry as set forth in claim 4 wherein theinterengaging means constitutes the petals with their marginal edgeportions arranged in shingle overlap fashion and in a closed pattern.

6. An article of jewelry as set forth in claim 4. wherein each petal hasone of its marginal edge portions located radially inwardly of andabuttingly underlapping the marginal edge portion of one of its flankingpetals and the other of its marginal edge portions located radiallyoutwardly of and abuttingly overlapping the marginal edge portion of itsother flanking petal whereby when one petal is moved outwardly, forceand movement is transmitted from the radially inward marginal edgeportion of each petal to the overlapping radially outward marginal edgeportion of the next successive petal so that overlapping marginal edgeportions slide on one another and the ring of petals swing outwardlysimultaneously.

7. An article of jewelry as set forth in claim 6 wherein theunderlapping one of each set of marginal edge portions carries a guidepath defining the points of sliding contact of the said portions.

8. An article of jewelry as set forth in claim 7 wherein the radiallyinwardly located marginal edge portion of each set of marginal edgeportions includes an elongated rib, said rib constituting the guidepath.

9. An article of jewelry as set forth in claim 1 wherein theinterengaging means constitutes the petals each having a portionunderlapping a portion of an adjacent petal, each petal urging the petalit underlaps radially outward when the ring of petals is unfurled from aclosed condition to an open condition.

It). An article of jewelry as set forth in claim 1 wherein the biasingmeans is associated with and urges outwardly at least one but less thanall of the petals.

11. An article of jewelry as set forth in claim 1 wherein there isprovided a watch located within the cover, wherein said frame has alarge through opening and wherein there are provided means rotatablymounting the watch on the frame for rotation about an axis parallel tothe plane of the frame opening, rotation of the watch yielding access tothe stem of the watch, and means normally retaining the watch in aposition with its face exposed when the ring of petals is open.

12. For use with an article of jewelry as set forth in claim 1, a ringof jewel mounting assemblies each including a setting adapted to mount agem, an elongated shank secured at one end to the setting and anenlarged head secured to the other end of the shank, the shank beinglocated in an elongated oversize aperture in the frame, and the shankbeing slightly longer than the aperture, the shank being free to move toa limited degree both radially and longitudinally of the aperturewhereby when the article of jewelry is Worn, the mounting will bejiggled by movement of the wearer and the ring of gems will shimmer.

13. An article of jewelry having an unfurlable cover, said articleincluding a frame having a border defining a plane, a curved line ofsuccessively marginally overlapping petals, means hinging each of saidpetals about an axis of rotation on the frame for swinging movementbetween an inward and outward position, the axes of rotation of thepetals lying substantially parallel to said plane and each axis formingwith an immediately adjacent axis an interior angle of from about toless than means for engaging each of said petals successively in orderof their positions along said curved line for mutual movement of thepetals between their closed and open positions whereby the curved lineof petals is unfurlable from a collapsed condition to an open conditionand means biasing the curved line of petals towards its collapsedcondition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 476,538 6 /1892 Hume 40l.6

503,387 8/1893 Schofield 461X 783,584 2/1905 Krastin 40 1.s x

2,096,410 10/1937 Siegert 161-17X FOREIGN PATENTS 790,517 2/1958 GreatBritain.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ARTICLE OF JEWELRY HAVING AN UNFURLABLE COVER, SAID ARTICLEINCLUDING A FRAME HAVING A BORDER DEFINING A PLANE, A RING OFSUCCESSIVELY MARGINALLY OVERLAPPING PETALS, MEANS HINGING EACH OF SAIDPETALS ABOUT AN AXIS OF ROTATION ON THE FRAME FOR SWINGING MOVEMENTBETWEEN AN INWARD AND OUTWARD POSITION, THE AXES OF ROTATION OF THEPETALS LYING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PLANE AND EACH AXIS FORMINGWITH AN IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT AXIS AN INTERIOR ANGLE OF FROM ABOUT 60%*TO LESS THAN 180*, MEANS FOR ENGAGING EACH OF SAID PETALS SUCCESSIVELYIN ORDER OF THEIR